US-based luxury hotel chain operator Orient Express has brought on its board an Indian-origin restaurant business entrepreneur Harsha V. Agadi as an independent director.

Incidentally, Orient Express Hotels (OEH) had courted controversy nearly three-and-a-half-years ago by turning down a partnership with Tata group’s Indian Hotels because of the latter being a “predominantly Indian” organisation.

In a statement issued late last night, OEH announced that it was nominating Mr Agadi, Chairman and CEO of US-based Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and a graduate from Mumbai University, as an independent director.

“Harsha Agadi’s deep experience as a CEO of several global restaurant companies will make him a superb addition to our board... Harsha will make a significant contribution to the company’s future growth,” OEH said.

It noted that under Mr Harsha’s leadership, the 75-year-old Friendly Ice Cream has regained the number one market share in New England region.

Prior to this, he was President and CEO of Church’s Chicken between 2004 and 2009 and has also worked previously with leading pizza chain Domino’s Pizza.

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